Title Options
- “Rich Towards God: We Will Not Neglect the House of Our God”
- “Barns, Budgets and the House of God”
Main Texts
- Nehemiah 10:32–39 – Covenant commitment to support the house of God
- Luke 12:13–21 – The parable of the rich fool
1. Introduction – Two Men, Two Attitudes
In Nehemiah 10, we meet a people who have just renewed their covenant with God. They have come back from exile, rebuilt the walls, restored worship, and now they make a solemn promise:
“We will not neglect the house of our God.” (Nehemiah 10:39)
In Luke 12, we meet another man – a rich farmer. His land produces abundantly, his barns are too small, his accounts are overflowing. But rather than ask, “Lord, what do You want?” he says:
“I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones… You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” (Luke 12:18–19)
God calls him “fool” – not because he was rich, but because he lived as if God did not exist and eternity did not matter.
Same world, same money, same possessions – two very different responses.
One says: “We will not neglect God’s house.”
The other says: “I will not involve God; I will expand my barns.”
Our question today: Will we live like covenant people of Nehemiah – or like the rich fool of Luke 12?
2. Exposition of Nehemiah 10:32–39 – Covenant Faithfulness in Practical Giving
a) The Context
- Israel has come back from Babylonian exile.
- The walls of Jerusalem are rebuilt (Nehemiah 6).
- The law has been read publicly (Nehemiah 8).
- The people confess their sins (Nehemiah 9).
- Now, in chapter 10, they sign a covenant with specific commitments.
Part of that covenant is financial and practical support for the worship of God.
“We assume the responsibility for carrying out the commands to give a third of a shekel each year for the service of the house of our God.” (Nehemiah 10:32)
They commit to:
- The yearly charge for temple service (vv. 32–33)
- Bringing firstfruits of their crops and fruit trees (v. 35) – cf. Proverbs 3:9–10
- Bringing firstborn of their sons and cattle as the Law required (v. 36) – cf. Exodus 13:2
- Bringing tithes of their ground to the Levites (v. 37) – cf. Leviticus 27:30
- Supplying wood for offerings (v. 34)
And then this powerful closing line:
“We will not neglect the house of our God.” (v. 39)
b) Key Lessons from Nehemiah
- Covenant faithfulness shows up in our budget, not just our mouths.
They do not only say, “We love God”; they structure their finances and logistics around His worship. - They move from “it” to “we”.
Not: “The temple will somehow run.”
But: “We assume responsibility…” (v. 32) - Their giving is systematic, not emotional.
- Yearly charge (v. 32)
- Firstfruits and tithes (vv. 35–37)
This echoes Deuteronomy 14:22–23 – tithing so that they may “learn to fear the LORD”.
- They see the house of God as central, not optional.
Compare Haggai 1:2–9, where the people build their own panelled houses while the house of God lies in ruins. God tells them:
“You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” (Haggai 1:6)
Neglecting God’s house can lead to frustrated prosperity.
3. Exposition of Luke 12:13–21 – The Folly of Barn-Building Without God
The passage begins with a man asking Jesus to settle a family inheritance dispute. Jesus refuses to become a mere financial referee and gives a warning:
“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” (Luke 12:15)
Then He tells the parable.
a) The Rich Fool’s Error
Notice carefully:
- The ground produced a good crop (v. 16) – the blessing ultimately came from God, not just his skill.
- His internal conversation is full of “I, my, myself”:
“What shall I do? … I have no place to store my crops… I will tear down my barns…” (vv. 17–18)
- His plan is all about bigger barns and easier life – no thought of God, no thought of eternity, no concern for the poor or God’s work.
- God breaks in:
“You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” (v. 20)
Jesus sums it up:
“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” (v. 21)
b) Key Lessons from Luke
- We are not defined by what we own.
“Life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” (v. 15) – cf. 1 Timothy 6:7: “We brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.” - We can be financially smart and spiritually foolish.
He plans in detail for barns and grain – but not at all for meeting God. Compare James 4:13–16 – traders planning without saying, “If the Lord wills”. - True wealth is being “rich toward God”.
Parallel: Matthew 6:19–21 – “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”
Parallel: 1 Timothy 6:17–19 – those who are rich should “be rich in good deeds… so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”
4. Bringing the Two Texts Together – From Barns to God’s House
Nehemiah 10 shows a people who use their resources to sustain the worship of God.
Luke 12 shows a man who uses his resources to sustain his own comfort.
Nehemiah’s people say:
“We assume responsibility… We will not neglect the house of our God.”
The rich fool’s heart says:
“I will build bigger barns… I will take life easy.”
The big idea:
God entrusts resources to us so that we may honour Him, support His work, and bless others – not so that we may build bigger barns of self-indulgence.
5. Scriptural Cross-References – A Biblical Pattern
- God owns everything; we are stewards.
- Psalm 24:1 – “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it.”
- 1 Corinthians 4:2 – Stewards must be found faithful.
- Honouring God with our wealth.
- Proverbs 3:9–10 – “Honour the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops.”
- Malachi 3:10 – Bring the whole tithe… “see if I will not open the windows of heaven.”
- 2 Corinthians 9:6–8 – “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly… God loves a cheerful giver.”
- Seeking God’s kingdom first.
- Matthew 6:31–33 – “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
- Warning against greed and misplaced trust.
- Colossians 3:5 – “Greed… is idolatry.”
- Proverbs 11:28 – “Those who trust in their riches will fall.”
6. Real-Life Application – What Does This Look Like Today?
Let’s bring this home practically.
A) Our Attitude to Money and Possessions
Question: If we laid your bank statement beside Nehemiah 10 and Luke 12, which picture would it resemble?
- Nehemiah pattern: Clear, intentional, systematic provision for God’s work.
- Rich fool pattern: Everything revolves around “my” needs, “my” upgrades, “my” comfort.
Real-life examples:
- The believer who always upgrades but never invests.
- Latest phone
- Latest car
- Eating out all the time
…but if you ask, “What do you give to support the work of God? What do you sow into the poor, missions, the local church?” the answer is either “nothing” or “whatever is left over.”
This is dangerously close to the rich fool.
- The believer who plans God into their budget.
- The moment salary or business income arrives, a portion is set aside:
“This is for the Lord, to support His work and bless others.” - They treat it as a covenant responsibility, not a tip.
That’s the spirit of Nehemiah 10: “We assume responsibility.”
- The moment salary or business income arrives, a portion is set aside:
B) Supporting “The House of God” Today
In Nehemiah, “the house of God” is the temple.
Today, in New Covenant terms:
- Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19).
- The gathered church is God’s house (1 Timothy 3:15).
- The work of God – preaching, worship, missions, charity – needs support.
Practically:
- Church buildings need rent, power, maintenance.
- Outreach, evangelism, media, children’s work, welfare support all require resources.
- Pastors, missionaries, and workers need to live.
When we hold back, yet enjoy the service, the worship, the ministry, we are saying:
“I am happy for the house of God to exist… as long as somebody else pays for it.”
Nehemiah challenges that attitude:
“We will not neglect the house of our God.”
Application question:
- Do I carry my share of responsibility for the house of God, or am I a consumer sitting in someone else’s sacrifice?
C) Balance: Family Responsibilities vs. Rich Fools
Many of us send money home, pay school fees, support relatives. That is good and biblical.
- 1 Timothy 5:8 – Anyone who does not provide for their own household has denied the faith.
But we must distinguish between:
- Responsible provision (food, rent, education, necessary medical care)
- Endless demands feeding pride, waste and idolatry
The rich fool’s problem was not family responsibility – it was godless self-indulgence.
Example scenario:
- God blesses someone with a good job or business.
- Instead of asking, “Lord, how can I use this to strengthen Your work, support my family wisely, and bless others?”
- They simply say, “At last, now I can show off. Bigger house, more status, more comfort.”
God is not against houses or comfort. The issue is priority and posture.
Key question:
If God asked me tonight, “What have you done with the resources I entrusted to you?” what would my answer be?
D) Time and Skills, Not Just Money
In Nehemiah, they also gave wood, labour, and service (Neh. 10:34).
Today, being “rich toward God” includes:
- Serving in church (choir, ushering, children, media, intercession)
- Using your professional skills (IT, design, accounting, teaching) for kingdom projects
- Giving time to mentor young believers, visit the sick, support the weak
Some have money but no time; some have time but no willingness.
God wants both our hearts and our hands.
7. Heart Work – What God is Actually After
It is easy to reduce this message to “Give more money.”
But God is after more than that.
a) A Heart of Worship
Nehemiah’s people gave because they had returned to God. Their giving flowed out of renewed love and reverence.
- Romans 12:1 – Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice.
- When God has our hearts, He will also have our resources.
b) Freedom from Fear and Greed
We often hold back from God because of fear:
- “What if I don’t have enough?”
- “What if I fall behind others?”
But Jesus says:
“Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33)
Giving breaks the power of greed and teaches us to trust God.
c) Eternal Perspective
The rich fool’s tragedy was not that he had a good harvest; it was that he prepared only for life on earth and not for eternity.
“This very night your life will be demanded from you.” (Luke 12:20)
One day, every bank account will close, every property will change hands, every investment will be irrelevant – except what we have sent ahead in obedience and love.
- 2 Corinthians 5:10 – We must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ.
- Matthew 6:20 – Treasures in heaven do not rust or get stolen.
Application:
- How much of your current financial behaviour will still make sense in 10,000 years?
- Are you rich in earthly accounts but bankrupt in heavenly ones?
8. Practical Steps – How Do We Respond?
- Audit your barns and your budget.
Sit down with your finances. Ask honestly:- What percentage goes to God’s work?
- What percentage is pure self-indulgence?
- Is there anything God has been nudging you to change?
- Make a covenant decision like Nehemiah’s people.
- Decide on a fixed, regular, honourable portion for God’s work.
- Treat it as worship, not as leftovers.
- Support your local church intentionally.
- See yourself as part of the “we” who say:
“We will not neglect the house of our God.”
- Ask your leaders where the needs are and how you can stand in the gap.
- Be rich toward God daily.
- Ask each day: “Lord, how can I be rich toward You today?”
- It might be money, time, encouragement, intercession, hospitality.
- Pray for a generous heart.
- Ezekiel 36:26 – “I will give you a new heart…”
- Ask God to deliver you from the fear, greed and insecurity that drive hoarding.
9. Conclusion – Our Confession
Nehemiah’s generation drew a line in the sand with one sentence:
“We will not neglect the house of our God.” (Nehemiah 10:39)
Jesus ends the parable of the rich fool with His own summary:
“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:21)
May our lives, our budgets, our barns and our priorities declare:
- We are covenant people, not consumers.
- We are stewards, not owners.
- We will not neglect the house of our God.
- We choose to be rich toward God.
Suggested Closing Prayer
“Lord, You are the owner of all things. Forgive us where we have lived like the rich fool, planning without You, hoarding for ourselves, neglecting Your house. Give us the heart of Nehemiah’s people – a heart that assumes responsibility for Your work and delights to honour You with our first and our best. Teach us to be rich toward You in our money, our time, our gifts and our decisions. Help us to seek first Your kingdom and to lay up treasure in heaven. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”